Chapter 2306: The Grandmaster of the Marketing Field

Liu Lijuan narrowed her eyes. A woman's intuition is very terrifying, let alone a woman who can rank among the leadership team and hold an important leadership position in the woolen mill; her IQ and insight are definitely not low. Therefore, the moment Jiao Liwei walked into the room, she had a guess in her heart.

In fact, Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun had both talked to Jiao Liwei separately, and more than once, but this guy's attitude had always been unclear. This made Shi Guoqiang, Hu Dajun, and some other people feel very dissatisfied, but they were helpless.

In the following days, Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun did not give up talking to Jiao Liwei because of his unclear attitude. Jiao Liwei's importance as the Executive Deputy Factory Director was too great. If he truly supported Zhou Andong, it would definitely be very uncomfortable for them.

However, no matter how hard they tried, Jiao Liwei never gave a clear answer, and his attitude had always been very ambiguous, which made Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun very angry, and their hearts also began to feel a bit uneasy, worrying that Jiao Liwei might lean toward Zhou Andong at a critical moment.

Finally, not knowing whether Jiao Liwei was annoyed or had other purposes, he very clearly told Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun that he would remain neutral and not get involved in their struggle. This decision, although still making Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun feel dissatisfied, was still better than directly defecting to Zhou Andong under the current situation, so they could be considered to have accepted it.

As for whether Jiao Liwei would go back on his word, they didn't think much about it. Because Jiao Liwei's father-in-law was from the Tong family, and the Tong family and the Yin family were allies. Since Jiao Liwei said he would remain neutral, he naturally wouldn't go back on his word; otherwise, the one who would be uncomfortable wouldn't be Jiao Liwei, but his father-in-law.

And the series of operations Zhou Andong performed after taking office today, the assertiveness and unquestionable attitude he showed, allowed some sensitive people to quickly perceive his true intention. That was to clean up the woolen mill with iron-fisted means, not allowing any noise to exist in the factory, only allowing his own voice, and naturally not allowing people who were sitting on the fence.

Therefore, after Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun understood Zhou Andong's intention, they immediately contacted Jiao Liwei and invited him to attend tonight's dinner party. They had never given up on winning over Jiao Liwei because they knew very well that once they left the factory, the people below would be like losing their backbone. Even if they were united, it would be very difficult to hold together and accumulate strength.

However, if there were a leader like Jiao Liwei, the Executive Deputy Factory Director, the situation would be completely different. He possessed a certain prestige and influence in the factory, capable of tightly condensing the people below, letting everyone's strength completely converge into a fist, thereby more effectively dealing with Zhou Andong's assertive measures.

"Oh my!" Liu Lijuan revealed a surprised expression, stared at Jiao Liwei who had visited suddenly, and said with a smile: "Factory Director Jiao, I was just about to leave work. Why did you come at this time? Do you have any instructions?"

"Nothing big, I saw you hadn't left work, so I came to take a look."

Jiao Liwei smiled slightly, waved his hand, then walked to the window, staring at the crowd still surging toward the factory gate downstairs, and said with great emotion.

"The first few years I was transferred here, our factory was at its peak. Every staff member walked with their heads held high, everyone had pride on their faces, and the confidence they radiated was from the inside out."

"However, time flies. Today's woolen mill is still that woolen mill, and the staff are still those staff, but their spirit and energy are gone. Although they still laugh and make trouble, that kind of former vigorous spirit and upward-striving spirit seems to have disappeared."

Hearing Jiao Liwei's words, a surge of complex emotions welled up in Liu Lijuan's heart, both nostalgia for the past glory of the woolen mill and helplessness and sadness for its gradual decline.

"I started as an ordinary frontline female worker and worked hard step by step to get to where I am today. It can be said that I personally experienced the ups and downs of the woolen mill and witnessed its former glory and current decline."

Jiao Liwei listened quietly, holding the tea that had already cooled in his hand, and took a light sip. He stared at Liu Lijuan and said sincerely.

"Factory Director Liu, are you really willing to watch the woolen mill collapse, four thousand staff lose their source of livelihood, just like the school staff, and end up picking up rotten leaves at the vegetable market to eat?"

Liu Lijuan's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly touched by Jiao Liwei's words in some corner of her heart. After a moment of silence, a faint smile appeared on her face, but that smile revealed a bit of bitterness and helplessness.

"Of course I'm not willing to watch the factory collapse like this, but under the current situation..."

Her words stopped abruptly, as if she had many words but didn't know where to start, and finally could only shake her head helplessly.

Jiao Liwei keenly captured the sense of powerlessness in Liu Lijuan's words and asked directly: "Then tell me, does Zhou Andong have the ability to lead our factory back to its peak?"

Liu Lijuan didn't answer immediately, but after a long silence, she slowly opened her mouth: "He should... have this ability."

Jiao Liwei laughed lightly: "Remove the word 'should'; Zhou Andong absolutely possesses this ability."

Liu Lijuan's eyebrows raised slightly, obviously somewhat surprised by Jiao Liwei's so certain attitude: "You have so much confidence in Zhou Andong?"

"Does Zhou Andong's ability in the commercial field need to be questioned?" Jiao Liwei laughed loudly, then continued: "Zhou Andong is absolutely a grandmaster-level existence in the marketing field. This doesn't need me to say much; all those cases are there, and you must have studied them too."

Liu Lijuan didn't speak, but she understood the meaning in Jiao Liwei's words. A brilliant marketing master could sell even broken cloth for a sky-high price as a treasure. Not to mention the woolen mill's product quality had always been top-notch.

Jiao Liwei slowly placed the teacup on the windowsill, then reached into his pocket, fumbled to take out a cigarette, and skillfully lit it, taking a deep drag.

"Actually, you should also be very clear in your heart!" Jiao Liwei's voice was low and slow, sounding very oppressive: "Whether it's Shi Guoqiang or Hu Dajun, the reason they are unwilling to leave and keep fantasizing about regaining control of the woolen mill is not because they want to revitalize the woolen mill, but because there are huge interests here that they cannot bear to part with."

Jiao Liwei's gaze looked through the window and stared at the main gate. At this time, the surging crowd had become much less: "As for the life or death of the four thousand staff, they don't care at all; they only care about whether their own interests can be satisfied."

Jiao Liwei slowly raised his hand, put the cigarette in his mouth and took a puff. The smoke drifted slowly in front of his eyes, making this guy's face somewhat hazy.

"But Zhou Andong is different. He came with a mission. His goal is to revitalize the glory of the woolen mill in the past and keep the rice bowls of the four thousand staff of the woolen mill. He not only wants these staff to be able to fill their stomachs but also wants them to eat better."

Speaking to this point, Jiao Liwei turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Liu Lijuan: "I, Jiao Liwei, have never considered myself a gentleman, but my feelings for the woolen mill are truly real. I really can't bear to watch these four thousand staff lose their rice bowls because of Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun's reckless actions, and finally end up picking up rotten leaves to eat."

Liu Lijuan's mouth twitched in a not-so-obvious way. Although the amplitude was small, it was hard to hide her inner disdain and sarcasm. Jiao Liwei's words were full of deep affection, as if he were a leader worried about the livelihood of four thousand staff, but in Liu Lijuan's eyes, this was nothing more than a hypocritical performance.

After all, everyone was a colleague, working together for many years; who didn't know who? Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun were unwilling to leave the woolen mill because the interests involved were truly too huge. Liu Lijuan knew this well.

And Jiao Liwei said he couldn't bear to watch four thousand staff lose their rice bowls and end up picking up rotten leaves to eat. He probably didn't even believe this himself after saying it. If I, Liu Lijuan, believed it, I would definitely run into a ghost when walking at night. However, Jiao Liwei admitting he wasn't a good person, Liu Lijuan quite agreed with that point.

But by this time, Liu Lijuan could already determine Jiao Liwei's true intention in coming to find her: "Factory Director Jiao, are you planning to drag me to defect to Zhou Andong?"

"Not defecting!" Jiao Liwei shook his head, a smile appearing on his face: "It's cooperation. Zhou Andong needs us to give him support, and we need to get returns from the dividends of this reform. This is absolutely a win-win good thing for both of us. I believe Zhou Andong will definitely not refuse such cooperation."

Liu Lijuan sneered in her heart. The woolen mill's situation was too complex, and the water was too deep and muddy. Even if Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun left, it wouldn't change anything. Therefore, to promote reform, one must use strong medicine.

Therefore, Zhou Andong would inevitably spare no effort to clear all obstacles that might hinder the reform process and unify thinking. In this process, apart from his own voice, he absolutely would not allow a second voice to exist.

Therefore, Liu Lijuan knew very well in her heart that Zhou Andong would not tolerate neutrals, and naturally, it was impossible to cooperate with others. What he needed was just a group of subordinates who could do work. As for whether they were loyal, it didn't matter to Zhou Andong, as long as they could honestly listen to orders and do things according to requirements.

Liu Lijuan's thoughts turned rapidly. Jiao Liwei was indeed not a good thing, but one point had to be admitted: this guy was absolutely a talent, and his skin was especially thick, able to pick up and put down anything.

If he hit a wall in front of Zhou Andong, then, I reckon he would also kneel down without hesitation. Since that was the case, why should I, a dignified Party Committee member and deputy factory director, not go talk to Zhou Andong myself, instead of following behind Jiao Liwei's butt, and finally having to owe him a favor?

"Factory Director Jiao, hearing these words of yours truly makes me feel enlightened. The haze in my heart was instantly dispelled, and I feel the whole person has opened up." Liu Lijuan's tone was very emotional: "However, this is not a small matter after all. Give me time, let me consider it."

"No problem!" Jiao Liwei seemed to have expected Liu Lijuan's reaction, nodded with a smile, then picked up the teacup, stood up, and walked toward the door. In his view, this was an extremely beneficial matter for both sides, and he truly couldn't think of any reason for Liu Lijuan not to agree.

Liu Lijuan smiled and watched Jiao Liwei leave, then looked at the time on her watch, hesitated for a moment, and walked out of the office. Because no matter how she finally chose, she had to attend Shi Guoqiang and Hu Dajun's dinner party tonight.

Municipal Government!

Wang Jianmin was looking at documents. The office door was knocked lightly, and he said without raising his head: "Come in!"

The office door was pushed open, and the secretary, holding a few sheets of paper, pushed the door open carefully, then walked in lightly. Seeing the leader was reading documents, he didn't disturb him but stood there waiting.

After about five or six minutes, Wang Jianmin signed the document with a pen, then closed it, and only then raised his head to look at the secretary.

"Zhou Andong's speech at the appointment meeting has been organized?"

"It has been organized." The secretary placed the few sheets of paper in his hand in front of Wang Jianmin: "Take a look!"

Wang Jianmin picked them up and read them very carefully, it could be said he was reading word by word. After a long time, he nodded and said: "Okay, send it to Xinhua News Agency, put it in the internal reference!"

The secretary was full of surprise upon hearing this, but his movements didn't have the slightest hesitation, quickly picking up the few sheets of paper: "Mayor, there is one more thing: Guan Mingli was taken away for investigation by the Supervision and Examination Office newly established by the woolen mill."

"Oh?" This was indeed beyond Wang Jianmin's expectation. He knew Zhou Andong would definitely take action against Guan Mingli, but he didn't expect it to be so fast: "Tell me in detail!"

The secretary recalled the information he had obtained, his speech speed neither fast nor slow: "The woolen mill's factory-run school staff's wages were suspended, and some staff families were almost out of food, going to the vegetable market to pick up rotten leaves to eat. Today, Factory Director Zhou took office, and the three principals of the primary school, middle school, and secondary vocational departments ran to the factory to find Factory Director Zhou..."

The information the secretary obtained was very detailed, and this took more than ten minutes: "It is said that Factory Director Zhou received a large number of whistleblowing letters, among which was Guan Mingli's. In addition, Factory Director Zhou also used this matter to force Union Director Nian Shihua to apply for sick leave."

Wang Jianmin picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip, then leaned back, a smile appearing on his face.

"Opening up the situation on the first day of taking office, amazing. No wonder the higher-ups sent Zhou Andong to serve as the Factory Director of the woolen mill."

The secretary nodded along: "If it were me, under the complex situation of the woolen mill, let alone opening up the situation so quickly, whether I could stand firm would be a question."

Wang Jianmin smiled: "In the future, have more contact with Zhou Andong; this will be good for you." ===== CHAPTER 2307 =====

Wang Jianmin smiled: "Interact more with Zhou Andong in the future; it will be good for you."